a visit of charity
eudora welty
Interpretive Questions: Answer all questions in complete sentences, use quotes to support.
1.) At the end of the story, why does Marian run out of the Old Ladies' Home? They are scary, meaning, and freaking her out. "Ugly,” said the woman in bed." p. 157
2.) Why does Marian feel that being in the old women's room is "like being caught in a robbers' cave, just before one was murdered"? (p. 155)
There is a lot of bickering and she is not free to leave like when someone is a hostage.
3.) When Marian begins to wonder about Addie, why are we told that "it was the first time such a thing had happened" to her? (p. 159)
It's the first time Marian sees death for the first time in physical form.
4.) Why is Marian's face "bright" and "burning" when she tells the first old woman that Addie is crying? (p. 159)
She thinks it's her fault and she's panicking wondering why she's crying.
5.) When she runs out of the home, why does Marian get out the apple she had hidden and take a big bite of it? She feels it's gross to bring her food inside a hospital. She takes a bite out of it because it's refreshing. "Under the prickly shrub she stooped and quickly, without being seen, retrieved a red apple she had hidden there." p. 160
6.) Why doest the first old woman say, "Well, it was a real visit"? (p. 160)
She's using sarcasm and trying to make her feel bad for leaving.
7.) Why do the two women argue about whether the flowers are pretty and whether they enjoyed the other Campfire Girl's visit? They are very critical about the little girl and her actions.
8.) Why does the first old woman tell Marian that Addie talks in a "contrary" way only "when you all come"? (p. 157)
She is nasty to them because they're not coming to take care of them, but to get their points.
9.) Why does Addie look at Marian with "despair and calculation"? (p. 158)
She's coming to get points not to actually care for them. "“Pretty flowers,” the first woman insisted. “pretty—pretty…”" p. 156
10.) Why does the first old woman clutch at Marian and ask for money? They're trying to get something out of the visit. "Oh, little girl, have you a penny to spare for an old woman that’s not got anything of her own? We don’t have thing in the world—not a penny for candy—not a thing! Little girl, just a nickel—a penny—“ p. 159
Vocabulary in Context:
1.) Ailing - p. 156
Quote: "'You mustn't pay attention to old Addie,' she now said to the little girl. 'She's ailing today.'" (Page 156)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): to trouble in body or mind
Synonym: bother
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The bully keeps ailing the new student in school.
2.) Contrary - p. 157
Quote: "'That's only the contrary way she talks when you all come,'' said the first old lady with sudden intimacy." (Page 157)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): to be opposite to something
Synonym: different
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The boy's idea is contrary to the girl's idea.
3.) Intimacy - p. 157
Quote: "'That's only the contrary way she talks when you all come,' said the first old lady with sudden intimacy." (Page 157)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): close familiarity
Synonym: closeness
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): There is an intimacy between the husband and the wife.
4.) Calculation - p. 158
Quote: "This old woman was looking at her with despair and calculation in her face." (Page 158)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): solution, the process of determining something
Synonym: assessment
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The math student's calculation on the challenging math problem was incorrect.
5.) Affected - p. 160
Quote: "In an affected, high-pitched whine she cried, 'Oh, little girl, have you a penny to spare for a poor old woman that's not got anything of her own?'" (Page 160)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): influenced, emotionally
Synonym: distressed
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The poor homeless man asked for money on the street with a deeply affected voice.
6.) Institutions - p. 160
Quote: "The nurse, after another triple motion to consult her wristwatch, asked automatically the question put to visitors in all institutions: 'Won't you stay and have dinner with us?'" (Page 160
Definition (based on context/in your own words): organization
Synonym: company
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): There are several institutions that help prevent the cause of animal abuse.
Thinking Map:
Use textual evidence to show examples of when you sympathize with a character or when you do not sympathize with a character. Include 5 examples and support with page numbers and opinion for each column.
Sympathize for a character
Feels bad when The old women are sick and dying (p. 159)
Feels bad when Marion is having to deal with them and is scared (p. 160)
Feels Bad when the old women don't get actual visitors (p. 157)
Feels bad when Addie is crying because she is dying and nobody cares for her (p. 159)
Feels bad when Marion tries to do the right thing and visits them and they are mean to her(p. 155)
Doesn't sympathize
Doesn't feel bad for Marion because she could have spoken up more and interacted with the elderly (p. 155)
Doesn't feel bad for the old woman asks for money and is greedy (p. 160)
Doesn't feel bad when the old women are pulling at her (p. 155)
Doesn't feel bad when Addie cries because she deserves it for being mean (p. 159)
Doesn't feel bad when the old ladies criticize the flower and are ungrateful (p. 155)
1.) At the end of the story, why does Marian run out of the Old Ladies' Home? They are scary, meaning, and freaking her out. "Ugly,” said the woman in bed." p. 157
2.) Why does Marian feel that being in the old women's room is "like being caught in a robbers' cave, just before one was murdered"? (p. 155)
There is a lot of bickering and she is not free to leave like when someone is a hostage.
3.) When Marian begins to wonder about Addie, why are we told that "it was the first time such a thing had happened" to her? (p. 159)
It's the first time Marian sees death for the first time in physical form.
4.) Why is Marian's face "bright" and "burning" when she tells the first old woman that Addie is crying? (p. 159)
She thinks it's her fault and she's panicking wondering why she's crying.
5.) When she runs out of the home, why does Marian get out the apple she had hidden and take a big bite of it? She feels it's gross to bring her food inside a hospital. She takes a bite out of it because it's refreshing. "Under the prickly shrub she stooped and quickly, without being seen, retrieved a red apple she had hidden there." p. 160
6.) Why doest the first old woman say, "Well, it was a real visit"? (p. 160)
She's using sarcasm and trying to make her feel bad for leaving.
7.) Why do the two women argue about whether the flowers are pretty and whether they enjoyed the other Campfire Girl's visit? They are very critical about the little girl and her actions.
8.) Why does the first old woman tell Marian that Addie talks in a "contrary" way only "when you all come"? (p. 157)
She is nasty to them because they're not coming to take care of them, but to get their points.
9.) Why does Addie look at Marian with "despair and calculation"? (p. 158)
She's coming to get points not to actually care for them. "“Pretty flowers,” the first woman insisted. “pretty—pretty…”" p. 156
10.) Why does the first old woman clutch at Marian and ask for money? They're trying to get something out of the visit. "Oh, little girl, have you a penny to spare for an old woman that’s not got anything of her own? We don’t have thing in the world—not a penny for candy—not a thing! Little girl, just a nickel—a penny—“ p. 159
Vocabulary in Context:
1.) Ailing - p. 156
Quote: "'You mustn't pay attention to old Addie,' she now said to the little girl. 'She's ailing today.'" (Page 156)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): to trouble in body or mind
Synonym: bother
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The bully keeps ailing the new student in school.
2.) Contrary - p. 157
Quote: "'That's only the contrary way she talks when you all come,'' said the first old lady with sudden intimacy." (Page 157)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): to be opposite to something
Synonym: different
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The boy's idea is contrary to the girl's idea.
3.) Intimacy - p. 157
Quote: "'That's only the contrary way she talks when you all come,' said the first old lady with sudden intimacy." (Page 157)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): close familiarity
Synonym: closeness
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): There is an intimacy between the husband and the wife.
4.) Calculation - p. 158
Quote: "This old woman was looking at her with despair and calculation in her face." (Page 158)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): solution, the process of determining something
Synonym: assessment
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The math student's calculation on the challenging math problem was incorrect.
5.) Affected - p. 160
Quote: "In an affected, high-pitched whine she cried, 'Oh, little girl, have you a penny to spare for a poor old woman that's not got anything of her own?'" (Page 160)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): influenced, emotionally
Synonym: distressed
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The poor homeless man asked for money on the street with a deeply affected voice.
6.) Institutions - p. 160
Quote: "The nurse, after another triple motion to consult her wristwatch, asked automatically the question put to visitors in all institutions: 'Won't you stay and have dinner with us?'" (Page 160
Definition (based on context/in your own words): organization
Synonym: company
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): There are several institutions that help prevent the cause of animal abuse.
Thinking Map:
Use textual evidence to show examples of when you sympathize with a character or when you do not sympathize with a character. Include 5 examples and support with page numbers and opinion for each column.
Sympathize for a character
Feels bad when The old women are sick and dying (p. 159)
Feels bad when Marion is having to deal with them and is scared (p. 160)
Feels Bad when the old women don't get actual visitors (p. 157)
Feels bad when Addie is crying because she is dying and nobody cares for her (p. 159)
Feels bad when Marion tries to do the right thing and visits them and they are mean to her(p. 155)
Doesn't sympathize
Doesn't feel bad for Marion because she could have spoken up more and interacted with the elderly (p. 155)
Doesn't feel bad for the old woman asks for money and is greedy (p. 160)
Doesn't feel bad when the old women are pulling at her (p. 155)
Doesn't feel bad when Addie cries because she deserves it for being mean (p. 159)
Doesn't feel bad when the old ladies criticize the flower and are ungrateful (p. 155)